Recapping an Xtream-ly long, late night of volleyball

CORALVILLE — Karsyn Michael was one of the lucky ones. She had an early morning reprieve Wednesday

“I’ve got first period off,” the Linn-Mar sophomore setter said. “Then, I’ve got math second period.”

Sleep was precious and brief for the Lions and Iowa City High on Tuesday. They were last-match combatants in a Mississippi Valley Conference volleyball tripleheader at Xtream Arena.

The event began at 5 p.m. and consisted of 14 sets, 581 points.

Six hours, 8 minutes.

It ended at 11:08 p.m. with a kill from Linn-Mar’s Kate Passmore, capping the Class 5A 11th-ranked Lions’ four-set win over No. 13 Iowa City High, 23-25, 25-22, 25-14, 26-24.

“I thought the kids fought hard,” said Lions Coach Nikki Rowland, in her fifth match as head coach. “We’re playing one point, one set, one match at a time.”

The Lions improved to 10-5 overall, and hold sole ownership of the MVC Valley Division lead at 4-0.

“We’re finding ways to get it done on Tuesday nights,” Rowland said.

When City High (5-5, 2-2) scored three straight points to tie Game 4 at 24-all, the event seemed destined for its third straight five-set match (Cedar Falls rallied past Iowa City Liberty; Iowa City West outlasted Waterloo West).

But Madison Stroschein’s kill got the Lions to match point, then Passmore closed it out.

“We came together and said, ‘Let’s finish this off,’” Michael said. “We were super hyped at the end.”

Rowland said, “Stroschein was great for us tonight. She struggled a little Saturday, but tonight, she executed on every swing.”

THE LAST TIME Liberty played in this arena, it walked out with the Class 5A state-championship trophy.

But this is a completely different team, a young team. Of the eight players in the main rotation, four are freshmen.

“The freshmen are out there for a reason, because they’re really good volleyball players,” Lightning Coach Allie Kelly said. “The key factor is getting that self-belief, not thinking of themselves as freshmen but as very good volleyball players.”

Liberty (6-11, 1-2 MVC Mississippi), ranked 10th in 5A, has played a challenging schedule that hasn’t been forgiving to its inexperience. That continued Tuesday; No. 6 Cedar Falls (14-2, 4-0) rallied from a two-set deficit and prevailed, 22-25, 21-25, 25-18, 25-22, 15-12.

The Bolts had an opportunity to close it out in Game 4, but couldn’t make an 18-15 lead stick.

“We have to focus on finishing,” junior Asta Hildebrand said. “We have to learn how to focus and play through it.”

One of two remaining starters from the Bolts’ 2022 title team, Hildebrand has seen the expansion of her role. She’s one of two setters (along with freshman Hadley Miller), and also leads the Bolts in kills, at 3.17 per set.

“I really like it, getting more balls,” Hildebrand said. “It makes it easier to be a leader. I like having the weight on my shoulders.”

Kelly said, “Asta is Ol’ Reliable. The whole team trusts her as a big sister and as a mentor.

“We need to get our middles more involved. We’re pin-heavy at times.”

In the middle match, Iowa City West (5-11 overall, 3-1 MVC Valley) strung together 13 consecutive points early in the fifth set and outlasted Waterloo West (0-6, 0-4), 13-25, 25-16, 25-15, 23-25, 15-5.

Xtream began hosting the state volleyball tournament last year. This year’s tournament is Oct. 30-Nov. 2.

“It’s awesome being back in here,” Hildebrand said. “Hopefully, this is where we end up.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com